(AKA Miss S B and The Yorksher Gob)

Help Me Oh Internets! Specifically those of you with Android phones...

So my new phone will be arriving soon, and I will be wanting to do lots of playing with it. The thing is, I'm a little bit late to the Android party, and the ecosystem of Apps is HUGE. So what I want is for you to recommend me an app. Not loads of apps. Just one per comment, the one app you use every day and couldn't cope without. And then tell me why you think it is essential.

Also if you have any tips for powersaving or other such useful hints, they will be gratefully recieved.

Phone is a Samsung Galaxy Note II with a small call allowance but HUGE data allowance, for those of you who were wondering ;)

Things I want to use my phone for:

- listening to podcasts- social networking- phoning and texting, obviously

I like Plume because it can be configured to show @username rather than "Real Name" (I have too many people whose "real name" has no relation to either their username or the name I call them and is subject to change without notice, and furthermore too many people sharing names -- a plethora of Jen(n)s, to start -- to rely on that), and I can color-code people. The choice of retweet type is just icing.

I keep the official Twitter app around (despite using Plume as my primary Twitter app) because it shows favorites, retweets, and new followers while Plume does not. I also often find it convenient to have a second Twitter app for diving about in weird places so I don't risk losing my place in my Plume timeline.

Audio Manager. Not ACTUALLY an audio manager (though it can act as one) but actually an app to hide files, photos, videos etc. Vaulty does the same thing but Audio Manager seems to have the edge in features.

Not sure how relevant info relating to an ancient LG Optimus V running Android OS 2.2 will be, but as far as battery saving goes, turn off the GPS if you're not actively using it-- it sucks battery juice through a straw.

App: Google Goggles. It gets most of its practical use with me as a QR code reader, but even if I didn't run into QR codes on a regular basis, I'd keep it for the gee-whiz factor. You take a picture of something and it tells you what it is. I identified a mysterious metal something-or-other that I dug up on the farm using the app-- it was an old fishing lure, apparently.

I would recommend Adobe Reader - I use it primarily for bus timetables so I don't have to waste trying to find them online; I download the PDF and use it whenever I need it. Also, get Flashlight. It's an app that allows you to turn on your flash for things like trying to find something in a big bag or to use as a torch if walking down dark roads etc. Also includes a Morse Code option where you can add in your own text or use the default SOS.

I find JuiceDefender essential for battery saving. It's very configurable so takes some time to get right, but allows you to trade off battery life and connectivity - for instance, I have it disable mobile data when the screen is off and ping it on every 15 mins for things to sync.

Pocket Casts for podcasts. Just Works for me, and allows things like only keeping the rolling last 3 episodes.

SwiftKey is by far the best keyboard out there, unless you prefer Swype. But if you prefer Swype, try the beta of SwiftKey Flow.

I second Tajasel's recommendation of Plume for twitter. if you only need one account there are many alternatives, though.

NewsRob for Google Reader.

whichever browser you use on the desktop (out of Chrome or Firefox at least), try the Android version, because sync of bookmarks, history etc is very nifty.

Pocket, for enqueueing interesting things from all of the random other applications (links from Twitter and goodness knows where else) for later perusal. The app also makes an effort at readably formatting articles, so one way of dealing with websites that are dodgy on mobile is to add the link to Pocket, then open it there and see if it works better.

If you're already using another sort of save-for-later service, see if they have an app, as I don't believe in messing with what works if it's already working.

Edited (oh dear, that was an unfortunate way to format that link) Date: Saturday, December 29th, 2012 12:51 am (UTC)

SMS Backup+, for backing up text messages. The general lack of backup on that makes me unhappy, so backup there makes me happy. (I haven't explored what other options there might be for this, so it's possible there are better things.) It only works when the phone's on, of course.

Not sure if some of the other apps you've had recommended do the same thing, but I find Advanced Task Killer Free very useful - stick the widget version on your home screen and then just tap it to kill all running programs (one problem I have with my Android - HTC Desire HD - is that programs keep starting up in the background and using memory).

Yeah, that's a thing I'm used to from nokia - a long press on the middle button of my current phone works like a ctrl-alt-del, so something that easily performs a similar function would be useful, thank you.

Oh, and seconding Dropbox. For two uses:1) Access to your files on the move. It doesn't download them until you ask for them, so it doesn't use up space, but it can be handy when you want something.2) Photo uploading. You can tell it to automatically sync all the photos you take to your dropbox, which means that ten seconds after you take one it's on your PC ready to be edited/posted. If you have limited internet then you can make this wifi only, so they only upload when you arrive home.

A friend has recently introduced me to WhatsApp, which is basically a texting app that works over wifi / 3G and doesn't cost you contract money. The person you're communicating with using it also has to be using it, but that's basically the only downside. Especially if one of you is in a bad area for signal, but have wifi connection, it's perfect.

About This Blog

Hello! I'm Jennie (known to many as SB, due to my handle, or The Yorksher Gob because of my old blog's name). This blog is my public face; click here for a list of all the other places you can find me on t'interwebs.

Please note that any and all opinions expressed in this blog are subject to random change at whim my own, and not necessarily representative of my party, or any of the constituent parts thereof (except myself, obviously).